Leader of Fine Gael

leader of the Irish political party Fine Gael

The Leader of Fine Gael is the most senior politician within the Fine Gael political party in Ireland. Since 24 March 2024, the office has been held by Simon Harris following the resignation of Leo Varadkar.

Leader of Fine Gael
Incumbent
Simon Harris

since 24 March 2024
Inaugural holderEoin O'Duffy
Formation8 September 1933
DeputySimon Coveney[1]
WebsiteSimon Harris

The deputy leader of Fine Gael is Simon Coveney.[1]

Leaders

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No. Name Portrait Constituency Term of Office Taoiseach[a]
1 Eoin O'Duffy   None[b] 1933 1934 Éamon de Valera (1932–1948)
2 W. T. Cosgrave   Carlow–Kilkenny (until 1927)
Cork Borough (from 1927)
1934 1944
3 Richard Mulcahy
[c][d]
  Tipperary 1944 1959
John A. Costello (1948–1951)[e]
Éamon de Valera (1951–1954)
John A. Costello (1954–1957)
Éamon de Valera (1957–1959)
4 James Dillon   Monaghan 1959 1965 Seán Lemass (1959–1966)
5 Liam Cosgrave   Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown 1965 1977 Jack Lynch (1966–1973)
Liam Cosgrave (1973–1977)
6 Garret FitzGerald   Dublin South-East 1977 1987 Jack Lynch (1977–1979)
Charles Haughey (1979–1981)
Garret FitzGerald (1981–1982)
Charles Haughey (1982)
Garret FitzGerald (1982–1987)
7 Alan Dukes   Kildare 1987 1990 Charles Haughey (1987–1992)
8 John Bruton   Meath 1990 2001
Albert Reynolds (1992–1994)
John Bruton (1994–1997)
Bertie Ahern (1997–2008)
9 Michael Noonan   Limerick East 2001 2002
10 Enda Kenny   Mayo 2002 2017
Brian Cowen (2008–2011)
Enda Kenny (2011–2017)
11 Leo Varadkar   Dublin West 2017 2024 Leo Varadkar (2017–2020)
Micheál Martin (2020–2022)
Leo Varadkar (2022–present)
12 Simon Harris   Wicklow 2024 Incumbent Leo Varadkar (2022–present)
  1. The office of head of government was the President of the Executive Council from 1922 to 1937.
  2. O'Duffy did not hold a seat in the Oireachtas while he was party leader.
  3. While Mulcahy was a member of the Seanad in 1944, Tom O'Higgins acted as parliamentary party leader.
  4. Between 1948 and 1959, John A. Costello served as parliamentary party leader.
  5. Clann na Poblachta (under former anti-Treaty IRA Chief of Staff Seán MacBride) were opposed to Mulcahy because of his role as Chief of Staff of the Irish Army in the execution of republicans during the Irish Civil War. Former Attorney General John A. Costello was chosen to head the government.

References

change
  1. 1.0 1.1 Leo Varadkar [@LeoVaradkar] (13 June 2017). "Delighted to appoint @simoncoveney as Deputy Leader of @finegael. Together we will guide FG's role in Govt and re-energise the party" (Tweet) – via Twitter.